CATAMARAN CHARTER GREECE SAILING DESTINATIONS
The Greek waters encompass a plethora of islands which can be devised into six main clusters from the Sporades Islands down to the island of Crete which marks the southernmost tip of the Aegean Sea. Each group boasts its own identity and is unique in charm and appeal.
Charter vacations tend to predominantly take place in three island groups which are the Ionian Islands, the Argo-Saronic Islands and the Cyclades. All of which lie within closer proximity of the country’s capital of Athens which makes for favorable cruising time and thus lower fuel costs. Although there are many stunning islands lying outside of these popular charter groups. such as Crete and Dodecanese. they tend to lie much closer to Turkey than Greece, making for lengthy cruising times which will result in less than appealing fuel bills. The Greek Islands offer endless opportunities for spectacular cruising and although marina facilities are a rarity here, this only makes for more beautiful coastlines and the ideal for visit with a catamaran.
Bareboat sailing in Greece is the adventure of a lifetime. Cruising past ancient ruins, docking at picturesque towns, dropping anchor in secluded coves, and swimming at beach side resorts are just a few of the many pleasures. With four bases in Greece, the selection of destinations is wide, encompassing the Cyclades, Dodecanese, Sporades, and Ionian islands. A Catamaran Charter Greece in the Aegean Sea offers exhilarating open-water passages, uninhabited islands, and chic resorts. The Ionians are sheltered and the Sporades are wooded, remote, and a world apart from bustling crowds.
The islands situated in the Saronic Gulf southwest of Athens are among the most beautiful and
interesting of all the Greek islands.
They are favorites close to one another, usually within a two or three hours sail. Long stretches of sandy beaches, fragrant pine forest. and rocky capes against a backdrop of brilliant sunshine and crystal blue water provide an infinite variety of scenic beauty.
The cultures and people are as varied as the settings, luring visitors with pottery, sponges, pistachios, and almond cakes, which are available at shops and restaurants along the narrow, winding streets of the island towns
The Saronic Gulf Islands are the closest group to Athens. They are a very popular escape for Athenians.
One of the many enchanting groups of islands surrounding Greece is the Cyclades group, so named because the islands form a cycle around the sacred land of Delos. The proximity of the islands to one another permits a relaxed sailing schedule, allowing more time for sightseeing and shopping.
Best known for their history, art, and civilization which dates back to the Bronze Age, the islands offer a stunning variety of scenic shores, unpsoiled beaches, local handicrafts, entertaiment, and diving.
The Cyclades are the quintessential Greek islands- rocky outcrops accented with dazzling white buildings offset by bright blue church domes, all showered in radiant light and fringed with golden beaches lapped by aquamarine seas.
According to mythology all the islands form an invisible circle (kyklos) around the island of Delos, which was considered sacred as the land of Apollo, god of light. The islands are small and closely grouped making them ideal for island hopping.
The Dodecanese are located East of the Cyclades. West of the coast of Asia Minor, and North-East of Crete. It is an enchanted world, where the sun paints pictures and gives life. The mild winters and refreshing summers give the Dodecanese one of the healthiest climates in the Mediterranean. The islands of the Dodecanese are engaged in a beauty contest with no clear winner.
In the summer the prevailing wind is the meltemi blowing from a North-West direction at Force 4-6. In Spring and Autumn the wind is less strong and blows from the South-East. These islands are a sailors paradise of more than 163 islands and islets. You will find on each island unoounted beautiful beaches and bays that you should not miss. The remotest of the Greek archipelagos the Dodecanese was only incorporated into modern Greece in 1948, after 500 years of occupation by the Latin Knights of St John. the Ottomans, the Italians, the Germans and the British. Through it all the islanders have retained their Greek cultural identity.
The islands’ history has left a legacy of rich and diverse archeological remains. Members of the Dodecanese display a marked schizophrenia. Dry limestone outcrops such as Kalymnos, Symi and Kastellorizo attract those in pursuit of the traditional island life while the sprawling sandy giants of Rhodes and Kos have beaches and bars galore. Nisyros and Trlos are volcanic, while Astypalea and Patmos at the fringes resemble more the Cyclades. This island group is renowned for its temperate climate and long tourist season.
The wind and sailing conditions in the Ionian Sea are ideal and predictable. From May to September the wind blows from North-West at Force 2-5. In Spring and Autumn the wind is less strong and blows usually from South-West.An ideal starting point for your cruise is our base in Gouvia Marina, about 15 minutes from Corfu International Airport.
The Ionian Islands located on the western side of mainland Greece, are seven main islands that distinguish from many of the Greek islands by their fertile land (blanketed with olive groves sustained by the winter rains) and clear blue waters. The mixture of different civilizations and cultures is harmoniously welded together into one piece that is undoubtedly Greek, in a complex of islands where the most beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean can be explored.
The Ionian group of islands is situated off the west coast of mainland Greece, but it is more reminiscent of Corfu’s neighbor Italy. Because of the high amount of rainfall it receives, the vegetation is lusher than on the other islands. Each of the islands has it’s own unique culture and cuisine.
The prevailing wind in the summer is the “Meltemi”, blowing from the Northeast. Force 3-4, although occasionally in July and August wind blows stronger from a North-West direction with a force 4-6 and dies at the end of September.
The Sporades Islands hug the east coast of central Greece. Beautiful white sandy beaches, unspoiled anchorages. ancient ruins and abundant sea life, will offer you a sense of exploration and independence.
So, let the beauty of the islands, forests, beaches, villages, churches and castles take you on a journey back in time. Our base, which is about 15 minutes from Skiathos airport, is an ideal starting point, for a journey to explore the Sporades and the coast of northern Greece.